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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts establishes tax credits and training grants for micro businesses hiring formerly incarcerated workers
Last action · March 18, 2026: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and MeansSponsors: Carlos González and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts establishes a $2,000 annual tax credit and a multi-year training grant program for micro businesses with 10 or fewer employees that hire formerly incarcerated individuals or residents receiving . Eligible employers can receive the tax credit for up to 10 consecutive years and training grants starting at $15,000 in the first year, provided their primary place of employment and the employee's residence are in the commonwealth.
Qualifying small businesses receive annual tax credits and direct funding ranging from $9,000 to $15,000 per year, while formerly incarcerated individuals and recipients gain employment opportunities supported by dedicated state trust funds.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Micro businesses with 10 or fewer employees
Eligible small businesses receive annual tax credits and tiered workforce development grants upon hiring qualified individuals.
Formerly incarcerated individuals
Individuals discharged from correctional facilities within the past 5 years gain targeted employment opportunities backed by state-funded training programs.
Individuals receiving transitional assistance
Transitional assistance recipients become eligible for targeted hiring incentives that encourage micro businesses to offer them employment.
Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
The agency is tasked with administering the micro business worker development and training program and managing the associated expendable trust fund.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a business for the tax credit and training program?
How much financial support does a qualifying micro business receive?
Where do the funds for the micro business worker development and training fund come from?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
6 actions- Mar 18, 2026HouseCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- Mar 9, 2026HouseReported date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Jan 27, 2026HouseReporting date extended to Friday, March 6, 2026
- Oct 21, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 10/28/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Revenue
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Dedicated Trust Fund via Program Reallocations
The newly established training fund draws at least 15 percent of its capital from five existing state grant and reserve programs rather than relying solely on new legislative appropriations.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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